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Nina Dorman
Dr. Bose
ENG 101
5/6/2016
Mexican Gray Wolf: Fighting for Survival
Early in our nations history, several different species of wolves roamed the wilderness
and prospered with the bountiful supply of game available. Recently we have seen a drastic
decrease in wolf populations within the United States with some species even facing extinction;
the Mexican gray wolf is one of them. As human populations continue to grow, encroaching on
these predators territories and hunting grounds, survival becomes more and more difficult. Not
surprisingly, loss of land is not the main cause for their dwindling survival. Hunters and angry
livestock owners have played an astonishing part in their near demise, and have since settlers
first arrived in North America. Although many ranchers and livestock owners today still fear
attacks on their animals, which for many is their sole source of income, agencies such as the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are set on protecting these wolves and finding a way for both
parties to co-exist relatively peacefully.
The Mexican gray wolf fulfills a crucial role in shaping the ecosystem in which it lives,
with a purpose as distinct as the wolf itself. As one of the rarest and smallest species of wolves in
the United States, the Mexican gray wolf is genetically distinct in many ways. Aside from being
smaller in size, comparable to that of the Red Wolves seen in the Eastern U.S., the Mexican wolf
also differs in coloration (see fig. 1). Mexican gray wolves coats contain varying shades of
black, brown, reddish-brown, and cream/tan, however, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
website claims that the solid black or white variations (seen in other North American gray
wolves) do not exist (FWS, 2015). Up until the late 1800s, prior to being hunted to near

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extinction, these wolves occupied territories from Arizona to Texas and into Mexico. It is here
that the Mexican gray wolf hunted large hoofed mammals such as mule deer and elk. By preying
on the old and sick of these herds, the Mexican wolf
fulfilled its important role within the ecosystem by
restoring and keeping balance. They did this by
hindering these herds numbers from increasing so
greatly that they overgrazed and destroyed the
habitats that other animals depend upon. Although
they play an important part in returning balance

Fig. 1. Three Mexican gray wolves from Chicago

Zoological Society; Brookfield Zoo; www.czs.org, 3
Feb. 2010; Web; 2 May 2016.

within their ecosystem, there are many who still see them as a danger to society and a nuisance
to livestock owners. This negative view of wolves first became prevalent when early settlers
spread across the United States, hoping to take advantage of the vast amount of land available for
their grazing herds.
By the turn of the century settlers began claiming large portions of the southwest U.S. for
their homes and even larger portions of land for their cattle. As the number of livestock increased
and the number of wild game decreased, due to settlers hunting activity, wolves began preying
on the cattle in the fields. Since these herds were relatively docile and at times even kept in large
enclosures, they proved to be an easy meal that the wolves showed no reservations against taking
advantage of. Not surprisingly, this caused a great rift to form between the predators and
livestock owners and fueled many to begin hunting these creatures to protect their cattle. Of
course, loss of cattle was not the only cause for concern for settlers as many began to fear the
possibility of attacks on their family and pets. As more and more losses were suffered at the
hands of these wolves, private, state, and federal extermination projects sought to drastically

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lower the wolf population for the protection of U.S. citizens property and lives. The FWS
reports that government agencies began a campaign to eradicate wolf populations in order to
protect livestock, ranchers (FWS, 2015). Bounty programs initiated in the 19th century
continued as late as 1965, offering $20 to $50 per wolf. Wolves were trapped, shot, dug from
their dens, and hunted with dogs. Poisoned animal carcasses were left out for wolves, a practice
that also killed eagles, ravens, foxes, bears, and other animals that fed on the tainted carrion
(FWS, 2015). Although brutal, these methods effectively fulfilled their purpose in exterminating
wolf populations and would continue to do so until the government intervened.
Without state and federal interference, there was little hope for the Mexican wolf
population reestablishing its presence in the southwest United States, however, that support came
in 1973 when Congress passed a law to preserve endangered species throughout North America.
Title 16 United States Code, Section 1531, Endangered Species Act (ESA) claims that this laws
purpose is to protect and recover endangered species and the ecosystems upon which they
depend (ESA, 1973). The establishment of the ESA was the beginning of government funded
programs and agencies whose sole purpose was to protect endangered animals as well as teach
the public about why it is important to preserve our rich, natural heritage. After its passage, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) was tasked with the responsibility of protecting terrestrial
and freshwater organisms and by 1976 they listed the Mexican wolf as an endangered species.
By 1977 the FWS began their efforts to conserve the species population; which was a notion
that was far from unopposed.
To begin this conservation effort, the United States and Mexico agreed to establish a
captive breeding program with wolves captured in Mexico. This breeding program was created
in hopes of saving the species from absolute extinction and to build up the number of wolves so

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they could be reintroduced into the wild in their native territories in North America. As this
captive breeding plan proved to be successful, the FWS began taking measures to plan the
reintroduction of these wolves into the wild. In 1982, the FWS approved the Mexican Gray Wolf
Recovery Plan with the objective to focus and stimulate reintroduction and recovery efforts by
maintaining a captive breeding program and re-establishing a viable, self-sustaining population
of at least 100 Mexican wolves within the Mexican wolfs historic range (FWS, 2015). This
reintroduction of predators back into the wild was still a cause for concern to the public,
especially livestock owners; who stood to be the ones most negatively impacted by this change.

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Aware of the possible pushback from state residents, the FWS provided several
opportunities for the public to express their concerns and to bring up issues that needed to be
addressed prior to publishing the Final Rule in January 1998. The purpose of this rule was to
establish a nonessential and experimental Mexican gray wolf population in Arizona and New
Table 1a
Map of Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area.

Mexico as well as to regulate how the reintroduced

wolves would be managed and monitored for

human and property safety. As of March of 1998, the FWS began introducing captive bred
Mexican wolves into the wild (see table 1a). Due to the uncertainty associated with their
survival, the Service ensured that they released a group of wolves under the 1998 nonessential
experimental population rule. This nonessential population not only ensured that the survival of
these wolves would not be impaired but also provided a substantial amount of flexibility in how
the wolf packs were managed. This was essential in better understanding the needs of the wolf
population, which allowed for more experienced techniques to be used over time and bettered the
overall program for future packs released into the wild. This also allowed for the Service to
create more engaged programs in hopes of improving human acceptance of wolves presence
while decreasing conflicts.
The most common conflict the FWS had to deal
with when reintroducing a top predator such as the
Mexican wolf came when they begin preying on
Source: United States; Fish and Wildlife Service; Map
Of Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area; US
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 Dec. 2015; Web; 2 May
2016; table 1a.
a. Note: Shaded areas represent wolf
management zones while color-coded areas represent
National Forests.

local livestock. While their reintroduction was and

is highly controversial, the Service believes it is
imperative for the public to understand the

important role the Mexican wolf plays on the landscape; this includes the potential biological,

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social, and economic impacts (FWS, 2015). Many citizens have strongly voiced their opinion
that not all of these roles are completely good, especially for nearby hunters, trappers, and
livestock owners.
To combat the negative effects felt by those who have suffered losses at the hands of
these predators, the Service and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation established the Mexican
Wolf / Livestock Interdiction Trust Fund in September 2009. This fund was created to generate
long-term funding for prolonged financial support to livestock operators within the framework
of cooperative conservation and recovery of Mexican wolf populations in the Southwest (FWS,
2014). While this fund is used to compensate for damage at the predation of livestock, it also
serves to fund habitat protection, research, education, conflict resolution, and outreach activities.
This fund has aided the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has dedicated several years
to finding a way to saving the Mexican wolf from extinction, as they continue to learn and adapt
to find new ways to increase the wolves population. At the end of 2015, the annual population
survey documented a minimum of 97 Mexican wolves in the wild, which is down from the 110
that were counted just a year prior. According to Benjamin Tuggle of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, these latest population numbers demonstrate we still have more work to do in
stabilizing this experimental population and maximizing its anticipated contribution to Mexican
wolf recovery (see fig. 2). While much work has been done and the FWS has come a long way
in their fight to reestablish this animals presence in the United States, there is still much work
still to be done. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service website, they do not plan to give up
this fight and will continue to find new partners and learn new ways to better help and stabilize
this growing population. Hopefully, with the help of a few people willing to give their time and

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resources, we will be able to find a way to restore the Mexican gray wolf to its former greatness
and the sounds of their howls will once more be heard in Arizona.

Fig. 2. Regional Director,

Dr. Benjamin Tuggle. US
Fish and Wildlife Service;
www.fws.gov, 29 Feb.
2016; Web; 2 May 2016.

Works Cited

The Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. FWS.Gov. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5 May 2015.
Web. 2 May 2016.
United States. Cong. Title 16 United States Code, Section 1531. Endangered Species Act. 100th
Cong. Washington: GPO, Dec. 1973. Web. 4 May 2016.
United States. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015 Mexican Wolf Population. Albuquerque: FWS
Public Affairs Office, Feb. 2016. Web. 2 May 2016.